How to pray Witr
Witr literally means 'odd', as in an odd number. It is the Prophet's ﷺ way of closing the night's prayer. Most commonly prayed as three rak'ahs. In the Hanafi school it is wajib (required). In the majority of madhabs it is a strongly-confirmed sunnah. Either way, the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Witr is binding upon every Muslim' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1420). The defining feature is the Qunut dua in the last rak'ah.
After Isha, until true dawn
Aloud when the night is dark and prayed with others, silent when alone. Qunut dua is recited in the last rak'ah.
3 wajib
Any time after Isha and until the entry of Fajr. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever fears not waking, pray it early. Whoever is confident, the last third of the night is better.'
Step by step
Every section below is one position in the prayer. Read top to bottom, then repeat for each rakaʿa.
Prayed after Isha. Fātiḥa + a short surah in all three rakaʿāt. In the third rakaa, after rukūʿ stand back up (iʿtidāl), raise your hands, and recite the dua of Qunūt, then go straight into sajda.
- Intention before the prayerNiyyah
After performing wuḍū' (ablution), stand straight on your feet, turn to the qiblah, and make the following intention in your heart:
"For the sake of Allah, I intend to pray the farḍ of Witr, the obligatory Witr prayer, consisting of 3 rakaʿāt."
The intention is made silently in the heart. Voicing it is not required.
- The opening takbirTakbir
Raise your hands and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
The prayer begins. After this, fold your hands.
- Dua Sana· 1st rakʿa onlyQiyām
Place your right hand over your left and say silently:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānak-Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārak-asmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 1st rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 1st rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْر
Innā anzalnāhu fī laylatil-qadr
Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْر
Wa mā adrāka mā laylatul-qadr
And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is?
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر
Laylatul-qadri khayrun min alfi shahr
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْر
Tanazzalul-malāʾikatu war-rūḥu fīhā bi-idhni rabbihim min kulli amr
The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with every matter.
سَلَٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْر
Salāmun hiya ḥattā maṭlaʿil-fajr
Peace it is until the rising of the dawn.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Stand up for the 2nd rakʿaTakbir
Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُون
Qul yā ayyuhal-kāfirūn
Say: O disbelievers,
لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُون
Lā aʿbudu mā taʿbudūn
I do not worship what you worship.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُد
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Nor do you worship what I worship.
وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
Wa lā ana ʿābidum-mā ʿabattum
Nor will I worship what you have worshipped.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُد
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Nor will you worship what I worship.
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِين
Lakum dīnukum wa liya dīn
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - First tashahhud· After the 2nd rakʿaTashahhud
Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt only (no durood here in 3- and 4-rakaa prayers):
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
- Stand up for the 3rd rakʿaTakbir
Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 3rd rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 3rd rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- Qunūt· Final rakaʿa, after standing up from rukūʿQunūt
After rukūʿ, stand back up (iʿtidāl) and stay standing. Raise your hands and recite this Qunūt, the dua the Prophet ﷺ taught al-Hasan ibn ʿAlī:
ٱللَّهُمَّ ٱهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْت، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْت، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْت، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْت، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْت، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْك، إِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَن وَالَيْت، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْت، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْت
Allāhumma-hdinī fī-man hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fī-man ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fī-man tawallayt, wa bārik lī fīmā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, fa-innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, innahu lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta Rabbanā wa taʿālayt.
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me in Your protection among those You have protected, bless what You have given me, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For You alone decree, and none decrees over You. The one You have befriended is not humiliated, and the one You have opposed is not honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and exalted.
Then say takbir and go straight into sajda. Reported by Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Nasāʾī. Other authentic Qunūt wordings exist (the Hanafi tradition reads its Qunūt before rukūʿ with a different text), pray the one your local imam teaches.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Final tashahhudTashahhud
Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt:
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
- Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah· Durood on the Prophet ﷺTashahhud
ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد. ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
- Final duaTashahhud
Make any sincere dua. A widely-recited one:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة، وَفِي ٱلْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
- The closing salāmSalām
Turn your head to the right and say the salām, then to the left and say it again:
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰه
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
The prayer is complete.
A note on variants. Recitations follow the most widely shared Sunnah wording. Some madhabs use slightly different phrasing for Dua Sana, At-Taḥiyyāt, the closing dua, or hand placement during qiyām. All authentic variants are valid, pray in the way your local imam teaches.
What makes Witr distinct
- 1
Odd-numbered rak'ahs: usually 3, can be 1 (for the simple form) or up to 11.
- 2
Qunut dua is recited in the last rak'ah, usually after the ruku (Shafi'i, Hanbali, Maliki) or before (Hanafi).
- 3
Best prayed at the end of the night, right before Fajr, as the closing deed.
- 4
If you wake for tahajjud, pray tahajjud first, then close with witr. Don't pray two witrs in one night.
Special steps for Witr
Qunut dua recited in the last rak'ah
The hands are raised and the imam recites this aloud (or you quietly if alone). This is the dua the Prophet ﷺ taught al-Hasan.
FAQs about Witr
Is Witr obligatory?+
In the Hanafi school, yes (wajib). In the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools, it is a sunnah mu'akkadah (a confirmed Prophetic practice). In all four, it is something a Muslim should not skip without reason.
How many rak'ahs is Witr?+
Most commonly 3 rak'ahs. It can be as little as 1 and as many as 11 (the Prophet ﷺ used to pray various counts). If you pray 3, the Hanafi method prays them as one continuous unit with one tashahhud; the Shafi'i method prays 2 + 1 with a salam between.
When is the best time to pray Witr?+
The last third of the night. But the Prophet ﷺ said whoever fears he will not wake should pray it right after Isha.
Can I do Witr in the morning?+
No. Its window closes at Fajr. If you missed it, the Prophet ﷺ used to pray 12 rak'ahs during the day as compensation.
Can the Qunut dua be shortened?+
Yes. The dua above is the complete taught text but any sincere supplication in that position is accepted. Many pray for personal needs and the ummah.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.